India must revive Lanka dialogue, Tamil issue: CNR

New Delh, Oct 30 | Updated: Oct 31 2004, 05:36am hrs

India should make a shift from its hands off stance on Sri Lanka and adopt a more pro-active policy as relations are intrinsically linked to the Tamil issue, political leaders and foreign policy experts from the two countries suggested at a conference here on Saturday.

The conference, organised by Subramaniam Swamys Centre for National Renaissance (CNR) passed a resolution that the international community, and India in particular, should assist the Sri Lankan government to ensure that the essential peaceful environment prevails to implement a federal constitution.

The conference rejected the concept that LTTE can be the sole representative of the islands Tamils. The CNR conference also pressed for bringing the accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, including LTTE chief Prabhakaran, to justice.

Sri Lankan minister for agriculture marketing development, co-operative development and Hindu affairs KN Douglas Devananda called upon India to play a positive role in solving the problem and help find a lasting solution.

In his statement distributed at the conference, former prime minister Chandrashekhar said because of their long history of cultural, political and economic ties, India had a special interest in Sri Lankan affairs.

Editor-in-chief of The Hindu N Ram said there was a clear, strong connection between the Tamil question and the Indo-Lankan relationship, and hence there was a need to run a reality check on what was unfolding in the island nation and decide Indias vantage point in the peace process.